Drainage device



April 29, 1969 J. H. OLSEN 3,440,823

DRAINAGE DEVICE Filed June 14, 1967 drtav-zaas' United States Patent 3,440,823 DRAINAGE DEVICE John H. Olsen, 2736 E. Newton Ave., Milwaukee, Wis. 53211 Filed June 14, 1967, Ser. No. 645,969 Int. Cl. E02b 11/00 US. Cl. 61-11 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates generally to improvements in the art of drainage, and relates more particularly to an improved sectional drainage device molded of light weight plastic or the like and adapted to be combined with a base sheet of liquid repellant flexible material in use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It has long been common practice to utilize concrete pipe sections or drainage tiles for aiding in the extraction and/ or removal of moisture from soil. The drainage pipes or tiles heretofore employed have generally been in the form of cylindrical sections of varying sizes and thicknesses and have been formed of relatively heavy and fracturable materials such as concrete. In use, these cylindrical sections are normally laid end-to-end in axial alignment in a trench or drainage ditch so that water collected therein can flow through the aligned tiles to a point of distribution such as, for example, a sump, pond or lake.

While these prior concrete tiles or sectionalized pipe have been generally accepted and quite adequately perform their intended functions under certain conditions, they are nevertheless not entirely satisfactory for all applications. For example, in order to be effective, the cylindrical sections must be carefully aligned upon installation to insure free flow of water therethrough, and this is a rather tedious and time-consuming task. Also, if the ground in which these heavy tiles are laid is soggy, mucky or swamp land which is soft and pliable, the weight of the tiles is prohibitive and frequently causes irregular settling, thus disturbing the alignment and impeding free flow of water through the tiles. Furthermore, these prior cylindrical tile sections are difficult to handle and transport in quantity due to their bulk as well as their weight, and they are moreover quite susceptible to breakage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an Object of the present invention to provide an improved drainage device which obviates the aforesaid objections and disadvantages.

Another object of this invention is to provide improved drainage devices which may be economically produced in quantity of light weight plastic and which may be quickly and easily installed by a novice.

Still another object of the invention is to provide improved light weight drainage conduit which is exceedingly durable despite its lightness and which may be nested for ease in handling and quantity transportation.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a drainage device which comprises, an elongated flexible sheet of relatively liquid-impermeable material providing a base positionable over a surface on which the device is to be installed, and at least one relatively rigid elongated dome-shaped and open-bottom conduit freely seated on said flexible sheet to substantially close the bottom of said conduit.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description.

THE DRAWINGS A clear conception of the construction, installation and operation of a typical drainage system embodying the improvements constituting this invention may be had by referring to the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the several views.

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a drainage device embodying the invention installed within a drainage ditch or trench;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of a single section of conduit seated on a fragment of a base sheet;

FIGURE 3 is an end view of the conduit section and base sheet; and

FIGURE 4 is an end view of a plurality of conduit sections stacked for transportation or storage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawing, the drainage device shown therein as embodying the invention consists generally of an elongated flexible sheet 10 formed of relatively liquid impermeable material, and a relatively rigid elongated dome-shaped open-bottom conduit 12. The flexible sheet 10 may be conveniently formed of a suitable plastic material supplied as a continuous sheet in roll form for ease in handling and storage, and in use, this sheet is positionable over a surface area of the ground on which the device is to be installed to thereby provide a base for the dome-shaped conduit 12.

The conduit 12 is comprised of a plurality of corresponding sections 14 which, in use, are longitudinally alignable on the base sheet 10 to complete the drainage assembly. The flexible sheet 10 thus forms a continuous uninterrupted base for the longitudinally aligned domeshaped sections 14 seated thereon. The sections 14 are pre-formed of light-weight material such as expanded polystyrene or the like molded in a well-known manner as by heat expansion in a suitable mold.

As shown, the corresponding conduit sections 14 are substantially dome-shaped and have downwardly and outwardly inclined side walls 16, 18, thus imparting substantially an inverted V-shaped cross-section to each section. This permits stacking of a plurality of conduit sections 14 in nested condition as shown in FIGURE 4, thus facilitating handling, storage and/or transportation.

The conduit sections 14 are also preferably formed with a series of longitudinally spaced downwardly-open channels 20, 22 extending through the side walls 16, 18 respectively to thus place the interior of each conduit section 14 in communication with the exterior. As shown, these channels or grooves 20, 22 are formed along the free lower marginal edges of their respective side walls 16, 18 and extend transversely therethrough. The channels 20, 22 thus provide ports for permitting entrance of water from the surrounding exterior to the interior of the conduit 12, and by locating these ports along the lower marginal edges of the outwardly flaring side walls 16, 18 adjacent the liquid impermeable base 10, drainage from above as well as from both sides of the conduit is enhanced.

It is also somewhat preferable to thicken or widen the lower marginal edges of the side walls 16, 18 to provide rigidity and provide a more substantial base or footing for the sections 14. Thus, the lower edges of the walls 16, 18 may be formed with outwardly directed marginal flanges 24, 26 as shown. Except for the interruption of these marginal flanges 24, 26 by the transverse channels or grooves 20, 22, the flanges are continuous for the full length of each section 14.

During storage or transportation, the flexible base sheet 10 may be maintained in roll form as hereinabove described, and the conduit sections 14 may be stacked in nested condition as shown in FIGURE 4. In use, the

required continuous length of base sheet 10 may be removed from the roll and placed directly on the bottom 28 of a drainage ditch 30 or the like as shown in FIGURE 1. The sections 14 are then merely positioned directly on the continuous base sheet 10 in longitudinal alignment as shown, and the assemblage is complete. If desired, the trench or ditch 30 may then be closed or it may be left open depending upon requirements. Also, if it is desired to accommodate a curve or bend in the trench, the adjoining ends of the sections 14 may be readily cut or mitered as necessary.

From the foregoing detailed description, it is apparent that the present invention provides a low cost but extremely efficient drainage device. The improved device is highly flexible in its adaptations and is exceedingly easy to handle as well as to install or store and transport. The continuous liquid impermeable base sheet cooperates with the molded conduit sections to provide a continuous unbroken conduction of water through the conduit, and the device is not subject to deterioration.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention.

I claim:

1. A drainage device comprisng, an elongated highly flexible sheet of relatively liquid-impermeable material providing a base positionable over and conformable with a surface area on which the device is to be installed, and

at least one relatively rigid elongated dome-shaped conduit formed of expanded polystyrene and having downwardly and outwardly diverging sidewalls each terminating in an outwardly directed continuous base flange freely seated on said flexible sheet to substantially close the bottom thereof, each of said base flanges being provided with a series of spaced downwardly open transverse grooves connecting the interior of the conduit with the exterior thereof directly over said flexible sheet.

2. A drainage device according to claim 1 wherein the conduit is comprised of a plurality of similar sections longitudinally alignable in end abutting relation on the flexible base sheet.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,795,542 6/1957 Horne et a1 6111 X 2,866,319 12/1958 Nicholson 61-11 3,103,789 9/1963 McDuff et al 61--11 3,309,875 3/1967 Niederwemmer 6113 3,369,367 2/1968 Saad et al 61-11 FOREIGN PATENTS 914,061 6/1954 Germany. 89,686 6/1957 Norway. 256,931 ll/ 1964 Australia.

EARL J. WITMER, Primary Examiner. 

